Vehicle with storage/utility system

ABSTRACT

A truck with one or more storage compartments in the bed adjacent the side panels and in which a hinged panel in the side panel or fender allows access to a storage compartment. The side panels maintain the appearance of a conventional pickup truck without storage compartments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/803,420, filedMar. 9 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,795, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/426,981, filed Oct. 26, 1999now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/896,392,filed Jul. 18, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,973, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/685,678, filed Jul. 24, 1996,now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.08/506,893, filed Jul. 26, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,000.

Pickup trucks have long been a means for transporting and/or storingtools, materials, etc. for various trades, such as plumbing, electrical,construction, repair, etc. While conventional tool boxes, whichgenerally extend across the pickup bed, are a convenient tool storageapproach, such take up a great deal of space and thus reduce thecarrying capacity. Also, the conventional pickup beds have been removedand replaced with utility type beds of various types, such asexemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,773 issued Dec. 7, 1993 to G. Kalis,Jr. et al. In addition, the pickup truck body and/or beds have beenmodified to provide storage/utility space, such as exemplified by U.S.Pat. No. 4,917,430 issued Apr. 17, 1990 to M. A. Lawrence.

While these prior storage/utility arrangements have been satisfactoryfor their intended purpose, such are an attraction for theft as well ashaving an appearance of a utility bed. Thus, there has been a need for astorage/utility system for pickup truck beds which does not alter thebed's external appearance or significantly reduce the interior size ofthe bed, thereby reducing the tool theft problem while providing spacefor hidden storage without significant reduction of the bed's carryingcapacity.

This need has been filled by the present invention which involves theconversion of a conventional pickup truck bed into a storage/utility bedwithout altering the external appearance of the bed and withoutsignificant reduction in the carrying capacity thereof. This isaccomplished by providing storage adjacent the wheel well area, andalong the length of the bed, and providing the fender/side panel of thebed with a hinge and latch arrangement whereby the fender/side panel canbe raised to expose the storage area, or closed and latched to concealthe storage area. Thus, the pickup can be used for pleasure or workwithout the appearance of its storage/utility capability, and can beparked in areas where theft would likely occur from conventional toolboxes or utility

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage/utilitysystem for conventional pickup truck beds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for convertinga standard pickup truck bed into a storage/utility bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pickup truck bed withstorage/utility capability without a significant reduction in thecarrying capacity thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pickup bed withstorage/utility capability without altering the external appearance ofthe bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pickup bed with a hiddenstorage/utility system wherein the fender/side panel of the bed ishinged to allow access to the storage/utility area.

Another object of the invention is to reduce theft potential from astorage/utility bed of pickup trucks, etc. by providing hiddenstorage/utility areas in the bed without altering the externalappearance of the bed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and accompanying drawings. The inventioninvolves a storage/utility system for pickup truck beds that can beinstalled in any fleet side bed without altering the bed's appearance.The storage/utility system is installed in the wheel well area of thebed, and uses hinges to open and close the fender/side panel of the bed.The fender/side panel is provided with a latching and lock mechanism.Since the storage/utility system only involves the area of bed adjacentthe wheel wells, it does not significantly reduce the carrying capacityof the bed. By providing a hidden storage/utility system for a pickuptruck bed, the potential of theft therefrom is substantially reducedsince the unaltered appearance of the bed's external surfaces would notlead one to a realization that it contained tools, etc.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may therefore be describedas storage/utility systems for a bed adapted to be mounted on wheels andhaving side panels, including a storage box mounted on at least one sideof the bed; at least a portion of a side panel on at least one side ofthe bed being hinged at an upper portion thereof, whereby the hingedportion can be raised to expose an interior of the storage box andlowered to cover the interior of the storage box; and a lock mechanismmounted to releasably secure the side panel. In the describedembodiment, the bed preferably includes a pair of wheel wells, and thestorage box covers a wheel well and extends forward and/or rearward fromthe wheel well.

A preferred storage/utility system has a storage box with a height lessthan a height of the bed, and in certain embodiments, a lock and latchmechanism is mounted to the storage box and may include a plurality oflatch members adapted to cooperate with latch members secured to theside panel. It is also an aspect of the present disclosure that astorage box may be provided with at least one shelf therein. In certainembodiments, a portion of a side panel extends substantially an entirelength of the bed, and the storage system is formed by a pair ofvertical cuts in the overall side panel of the bed adjacent ends of theoverall side panel, and is constructed such that when the side panel islowered the storage box is hidden and the appearance of the bed is notaltered.

In certain embodiments of the disclosure, each side of a bed may beprovided with a storage box, a lock and latch mechanism, and a hingedside panel. It is also a preferred embodiment that when each side of abed includes a storage box, that the storage boxes in the bed arepositioned in excess of four (4) feet from each other. Variousembodiments of the disclosure would also include the describedstorage/utility systems in which the beds are mounted over the wheels ofa pickup, trailer or truck.

In certain embodiments an invention disclosed herein may be described asa method for converting a conventional bed of a vehicle or trailerhaving wheel wells and side panels into a storage/utility bed withoutaltering the external appearance of the bed. The method would includeremoving a section of the side panel on at least one side of the bed;hinging the removed side panel section at an upper end thereof to thebed, whereby the side panel section can be raised and lowered; formingstorage means along at least one side of the bed so as to cover thewheel wells, whereby raising of the side panel section exposes theinterior of the storage means; and providing latching means for sidepanel section.

In the practice of the described method, removing a section of the sidepanel may be carried out by making a pair of vertical cuts through theside panel and removing any connection to the bed of the side panelalong the lower end thereof. The removed side panel may be hinged, andin certain embodiments a full length hinge is used. The method mayfurther include providing a latch by positioning a plurality of latchmechanisms along the bed and along the side panel section, and providingthe storage means with a latch release mechanism and a lock may also beprovided. In certain embodiments the latching mechanism is formed toinclude a release mechanism, preferably by positioning the releasemechanism at the rear of the storage means, and connecting the pluralityof latch mechanisms to the release mechanism.

In certain embodiments the described method include providing a storagemeans, a hinged side panel section, and a latching means on each side ofthe bed, and positioning the storage means in the bed such that there isa space of about four feet between the storage means, and forming thestorage means such that the height thereof is less than the height ofthe bed. Such methods may further include hinging the side panel sectionsuch that the hinge is hidden from a side view of the bed, preparing andpainting the storage means and exposed surfaces of the side panelsection and adjacent bed surfaces to correspond to the paint of the bed,and/or providing the storage means with internal shelving.

Certain embodiments of the invention may also be described as a methodfor fabricating a storage/utility bed without altering the externalappearance thereof, including forming a bed to include a storage box oneach side of the bed extending along substantially the length of thebed; forming hinged side panels on the bed such that same can be openedand closed, to expose or cover the storage boxes, and providing latchingand lock means for the side panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a partof the disclosure, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a view of a side of a pickup truck bed which has been modifiedto incorporate the storage/utility system under the closed fender/sidepanel of the bed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the pickup truck bed of FIG. 1 showing the leftfender/side panel open, the right fender/side panel closed, the tailgate open, and the storage boxes and lock mechanism within the bed.

FIG. 3 is a view of an embodiment of the storage/utility system of theFIG. 1 pickup truck bed with the fender/side panel raised to illustratethe storage bin shelves and latch mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the FIG. 1 pickup truck bed illustrating thestorage boxes and fender/side panels, with the tail gate closed.

FIG. 5 is a view of a pickup truck having a storage compartment in thebed adjacent the side panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention involves a storage/utility system for a pickuptruck bed and a method for conversion of a conventional pickup truck bedto a storage/utility bed without altering the external appearance of thebed, and without a significant reduction in the carrying capacity of thebed. The present invention reduces the theft potential fromstorage/utility beds by eliminating the appearance of such beds. Theinvention utilizes lost space adjacent the wheel wells of the bed whilemaintaining the space between the wheel wells. As known, the spacebetween the wheel wells of a conventional pickup truck bed is slightlyover four (4) feet and the conventional pickup truck beds have a lengthof eight (8) feet plus, wherein sheets of 8 ft. by 4 ft. material, suchas plywood, etc. can be carried between the wheel wells. However, thespace in front and back of the wheel well is generally considered lostspace for large items until material bas been stacked above the heightof the wheel wells. Thus, by utilizing the area in front, back, andabove the wheel wells as storage/utility space, the overallstorage/carrying capacity of the bed is increased between the outerfender and inner fender of a stock pickup by removing the inner fender.Here, the term storage/utility space is defined as that space in whichtools, such as vices, saws, etc. can be stored or mounted for use, andin which shelves can be secured for retaining parts, etc.

By the present invention, a conventional pickup truck bed is convertedto a storage/utility bed, whereas the conventional installation ofstorage/utility beds involve the replacement of the conventional bed,thus the cost of conversion compared to the cost of the conventional bedreplacement is substantially less. Basically, the conversion involvescutting each fender/side panel (hereinafter called side panel)vertically in two places and along the upper length thereof, on an innersurface of the side panel, as described in detail hereinafter,disconnecting the lower length of the side panels from the bed frame,hinging the side panel along the upper length, providing braces on theside panels, installing a latching mechanism along the lower length ofthe side panels, providing a key lock for the latching mechanism,installing a storage structure or box over the wheel wells along eachside of the bed, securing shelving to the storage box, and painting thecut areas and the storage box to correspond to the color of the bed.Upon completion of the conversion, from a side view, the only differencebetween the converted bed and a nonconverted bed are two vertical linesor small spaces, one just back of the front of the bed and one justforward of the taillight section of the bed, where the side panel iscut, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The hinge for each side panel is locatedon an inner area of the side panel so as not to be exposed to oneviewing the bed from an external side position. Thus, one would notreadily recognize the modification to the bed, and therefore those withintent to steal tools, etc. would not recognize the hidden storagearrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventionallyappearing pickup truck generally indicated at 10 having a cab 11, bed12, frame or undercarriage 13, and wheels 14. The bed 12 is mounted onframe or undercarriage 13 and includes side panels 15, a taillightarrangement 16, a hinged tailgate 17 with stop mechanisms 18, and wheelwells 19. However, the bed 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 has been modified inaccordance with the present invention, with the only indication of suchmodification being the cuts, small spaces, or lines 20 and 21 in theside panels 15, as shown in FIG. 1, with the side panel being closed.Note that in this embodiment the side panels 15 terminate adjacent theframe or undercarriage 13.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the storage/utility area is provided bystorage or structure boxes 22 and 23 mounted within the bed 12 and overthe wheel wells 19, the boxes 22 and 23 being constructed to cover thewheel wells 19, but not extend to the top or upper surface 24 of bed 12,and terminate in spaced relation to tailgate 17. A latch mechanism 25 ismounted in the rear of each of boxes 22 and 23, as seen in FIG. 2, andis provided with a key lock 26. The latch mechanism 25 includes latchmembers 27 located in spaced relation along the bed 12, and whichcooperate with corresponding latch members 28 in side panel 15, as showin FIG. 3. While not shown, the latch members 27 are interconnected by arod or cable which is connected to mechanism 25 which includes a releasefor members 27.

As seen in FIG. 3, the side panels 15 are each provided with braces 29and a hinge 30 that extends the full length thereof. Shelves 31 and 32are secured to the interior of storage or structure boxes 22 and 23, andthe area forward of the wheel well 19 forms a storage bin 33. The hinges30 are located on the interior of the bed 12 and thus not visible fromthe exterior.

It has thus been shown that the present invention provides a hiddenstorage/utility arrangement that can be initially built into a pickuptruck bed, or a conventional bed can be converted to include thestorage/utility arrangement without altering the external appearance ofthe bed and without a significant reduction in the carrying capacity ofthe bed. While the invention has been described with respect to a pickupbed, it can be readily incorporated into trailer or full-sized truckbeds having side panels without detracting from the appearance of theside panels, except for the two vertical cuts therein.

While a specific embodiment of the storage/utility system of the presentinvention has been described and illustrated, such is not intended tolimit the invention to this embodiment. For certain applications onlyone storage box my be desired. Beds for pickups, trailers, and trucksare designed with differently constructed side panels andframe/undercarriage arrangements. For example, the bed 12 of FIG. 1 mayextend downward to cover the frame or undercarriage 13, as shown, andthus the side panels 15 would include the extended area, or a cut, suchas indicated at 34 in FIG. 2, can be made along a desired lower portionof the side panels to eliminate the need for raising the entire sidepanel when the extended area is part thereof.

Modifications and changes may become apparent to those skilled in theart, and it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited onlyby the scope of the appended claims.

1. A pickup truck comprising a forward area with contoured sides and abed; the bed comprising: an open cargo area; rear wheel wells, twoopposed side panels which are contoured and generally in line with thecontoured sides of the forward area of the pickup truck, a floor; afirst and a second inner wall, which are visually integrated into thebed to define the lateral sides of the open cargo area of the bed, atleast the first inner wall being spaced laterally inwardly of itsassociated side panel; a storage compartment built into the bed betweenthe first inner wall and its associated side panel, the storagecompartment being located at least partially above the floor; and ahinged panel providing access to the storage compartment, the bed beingconstructed such that the pickup has substantially the externalappearance of a pickup without the built-in storage.
 2. The pickup truckof claim 1 further comprising a top rail between the first inner walland the side panel.
 3. The pickup truck of claim 2 in which the hingedpanel includes at least a portion of the top rail.
 4. The pickup truckof claim 2 wherein the hinged panel comprises a hinge located along aportion of the top rail.
 5. The pickup truck of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second inner walls are spaced apart by a distance of at leastfour feet.
 6. The pickup truck of claim 1, wherein the side panels arecontoured to substantially match the contoured sides of the forwardarea.
 7. The pickup truck of claim 1, wherein the hinged panel comprisesa hinge that is not exposed to an external view of the pickup.
 8. Thepickup truck of claim 5, 6, or 7, wherein the storage compartment is atleast partially above the wheel well.
 9. The pickup truck of claim 5, 6,or 7, wherein the storage compartment is at least partially behind thewheel well.
 10. The pickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the storagecompartment is at least partially above and at least partially behindthe wheel well.
 11. The pickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein thestorage compartment is entirely above the floor of the bed.
 12. Thepickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the wheel well has an inneredge portion, and the inner wall is approximately aligned with the inneredge portion of the wheel well.
 13. The pickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7,wherein the wheel well has an inner edge and the inner wall ispositioned near an inner edge of the wheel well.
 14. The pickup truck ofclaim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the bed comprises a forward wall and thestorage compartment extends to the forward wall.
 15. The pickup truck ofclaim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the width of the storage compartment at the topof the side panel is less than the width of the wheel well at the levelof the floor.
 16. The pickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7, comprising asecond storage compartment which is a mirror image of the first and isdisposed between the second inner wall and its associated side panel.17. The pickup truck of claim 16, wherein the first and second innerwalls are spaced apart by a distance of at least four feet.
 18. Thepickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the bed is constructed suchthat the pickup has substantially the appearance of a pickup without thebuilt-in storage.
 19. The pickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein thestorage compartment contains a storage bin.
 20. The pickup truck ofclaim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the storage compartment is lockable.
 21. Thepickup truck of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the contour of the side panelsproximate the cab substantially conforms to the contour of the cab up tosubstantially the height of the bed.
 22. A pickup truck comprising aforward area with contoured sides and a bed; the bed comprising: an opencargo area; rear wheel wells, two opposed side panels which arecontoured and generally in line with the contoured sides of the forwardarea of the pickup truck, a floor; a first and a second inner wall,which are visually integrated into the bed to define the lateral sidesof the open cargo area of the bed, the inner walls being spacedlaterally inwardly of their associated side panels; storage compartmentsbuilt into the bed between the inner walls and their associated sidepanels, the storage compartments located at least partially above thefloor; and hinged panels providing access to the storage compartments;the bed being constructed such that the pickup has substantially theexternal appearance of a pickup without the built-in storage.
 23. Thepickup truck of claim 22, wherein the hinged panels comprise hinges thatare not exposed to an external view of the pickup truck.
 24. The pickuptruck of claim 22, wherein the bed is constructed such that the pickuptruck has substantially the appearance of a pickup truck without thebuilt in storage.
 25. The pickup truck of claim 22, 23, or 24 whereinthe contour of the side panels proximate the forward area substantiallyconforms to the contour of the forward area up to substantially theheight of the bed.
 26. The pickup truck of claim 25, wherein the storagecompartments are at least partially above the wheel wells.
 27. Thepickup truck of claim 25, wherein the storage compartments are at leastpartially behind the wheel wells.
 28. The pickup truck of claim 25,wherein the storage compartments are at least partially above and atleast partially behind the wheel wells.
 29. The pickup truck of claim25, wherein the storage compartments are entirely above the floor of thebed.
 30. The pickup truck of claim 25, wherein the storage compartmentsare at least partially above the wheel wells.
 31. The pickup truck ofclaim 29, wherein the storage compartments are at least partially behindthe wheel wells.
 32. The pickup truck of claim 29, wherein the storagecompartments are at least partially above and at least partially behindthe wheel wells.
 33. The pickup truck of claim 25, wherein the first andsecond inner walls are spaced apart by a distance of at least four feet.34. The pickup truck of claim 25, wherein the wheel wells have inneredge portions, and the inner walls are approximately aligned with theinner edge portions of the wheel wells.
 35. The pickup truck of claim25, wherein the wheel wells have inner edges and the inner walls areeach positioned near an inner edge of the wheel wells.
 36. The pickuptruck of claim 25, further comprising top rails between the inner wallsand the side panels.
 37. The pickup truck of claim 36, in which thehinged panels include at least a portion of the top rails.
 38. Thepickup truck of claim 36, wherein the hinged panels comprise hingeslocated along a portion of the top rails.
 39. The pickup truck of claim25, wherein the side panels are contoured to substantially match thecontour of the contoured sides of the forward area.
 40. The pickup truckof claim 25, wherein the bed comprises a forward wall and the storagecompartments extend to the forward wall.
 41. The pickup truck of claim25, wherein the width of the storage compartments at the top of the sidepanels is less than the width of the wheel wells at the level of thefloor.
 42. The pickup truck of claim 25, wherein the bed is constructedsuch that the pickup has substantially the appearance of a pickupwithout the built-in storage.
 43. The pickup truck of claim 25, whereinat least one of the storage compartments contains a storage bin.
 44. Thepickup truck of claim 25, wherein at least one of the storagecompartments is lockable.
 45. A pickup truck comprising a forward areawith contoured sides and a bed; the bed comprising: an open cargo area;rear wheel wells, two opposed side panels which are contoured andgenerally in line with the contoured sides of the forward area of thepickup truck, top rails; a floor; first and second inner walls, whichare visually integrated into the bed to define the lateral sides of theopen cargo area of the bed, the inner walls being spaced laterallyinwardly of their associated side panels; storage compartments builtinto the bed between the inner walls and their associated side panels,the storage compartments being located at least partially above thefloor, at least partially above the wheel wells and at least partiallybehind the wheel wells; and hinged panels providing access to thestorage compartments; the bed being constructed such that the pickup hassubstantially the appearance of a pickup without the built-in storage.46. The pickup truck of claim 45, wherein the hinged panels comprisehinges that are not exposed to an external view of the pickup.
 47. Thepickup truck of claim 45, wherein the storage compartments are at leastpartially in front of the wheel wells.
 48. The pickup truck of claim 45wherein the hinged panels comprise hinges located along a portion of thetop rails.
 49. The pickup truck of claim 45, 46, 47, or 48, wherein thestorage compartments are entirely above the floor of the bed.
 50. Thepickup truck of claim 49, wherein the first and second inner walls arespaced apart by a distance of at least four feet.
 51. The pickup truckof claim 49, wherein the wheel wells have inner edge portions, and theinner walls are approximately aligned with the inner edge portions ofthe wheel wells.
 52. The pickup truck of claim 49, wherein the wheelwells have inner edges and the inner walls are each positioned near aninner edge of the wheel wells.
 53. The pickup truck of claim 49, whereinthe side panels are contoured to substantially match the contoured sidesof the forward area.
 54. The pickup truck of claim 49, wherein the bedcomprises a forward wall and the storage compartments extend to theforward wall.
 55. The pickup truck of claim 49, wherein the width of thestorage compartments at the top of the side panels is less than thewidth of the wheel wells at the level of the floor.
 56. The pickup truckof claim 49, wherein at least one of the storage compartments contains astorage bin.
 57. The pickup truck of claim 49, wherein at least one ofthe storage compartments is lockable.
 58. The pickup truck of claim 49,wherein the contour of the side panels proximate the forward areasubstantially conforms to the contour of the forward area up tosubstantially the height of the bed.
 59. A pickup truck comprising aforward area with contoured sides and a bed; the bed comprising: an opencargo area; rear wheel wells, two opposed side panels which arecontoured to substantially match the contoured sides of the forward areaand generally in line with the contoured sides of the forward area ofthe pickup truck, top rails; a floor; first and second inner walls,which are visually integrated into the bed to define the lateral sidesof the open cargo area of the bed, the inner walls being spacedlaterally inwardly of their associated side panels; storage compartmentsbuilt into the bed between the inner walls and their associated sidepanels, the storage compartments each containing a storage bin locatedat least partially above the floor, at least partially above the wheelwells and at least partially behind the wheel wells, wherein the widthof the storage compartments at the top of the side panels is less thanthe width of the wheel wells at the level of the floor; and hingedpanels providing access to the storage bins; the bed being constructedsuch that the pickup has substantially the external appearance of apickup truck without the built-in storage.
 60. The pickup truck of claim59 wherein the hinged panels comprise hinges located along a portion ofthe top rails.
 61. A pickup truck comprising a forward area withcontoured sides and a bed; the bed comprising: an open cargo area; rearwheel wells, two opposed side panels which are contoured tosubstantially match the contoured sides of the forward area andgenerally in line with the contoured sides of the forward area of thepickup truck, top rails; a floor; first and second inner walls, whichare visually integrated into the bed to define the lateral sides of theopen cargo area of the bed, the inner walls being spaced laterallyinwardly of their associated side panels; storage compartments builtinto the bed between the inner walls and their associated side panels,the storage compartments each containing a storage bin located above thefloor, at least partially above the wheel wells and at least partiallybehind the wheel wells, wherein the width of the storage compartments atthe top of the side panels is less than the width of the wheel wells;and hinged panels providing access to the storage bins; the bed beingconstructed such that the pickup has substantially the externalappearance of a pickup without the built-in storage.
 62. The pickuptruck of claim 61, wherein the hinged panels comprise hinges locatedalong a portion of the top rails.